Launch of Naro rocket delayed

NARO SPACE CENTER - South Korea's third attempt to send a space rocket from its own soil was again pushed back Thursday due to problems in the upper second-stage rocket of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1.

When the launch will be possible was to be determined later, according to Cho Yul-rae, vice minister for science and technology.

"Abnormal signals from the thrust vector system of the upper (second) stage rocket of Naro have been detected," he told a press briefing.

Thrust vectoring refers to the ability of an aircraft or rocket to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine, and thus control the altitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.

The rocket, also known as the Naro-1, was earlier set to be launched at 4 p.m., but the countdown was halted with less than 17 minutes left before the scheduled launch.

Yonhap